LAPEL — Lapel football put up some big numbers during its meeting with visiting North Decatur, but the Chargers’ offensive work was too much to overcome on the Bulldogs’ homecoming night on Friday.
North Decatur (5-0) won 43-18.
“We have a lot of talent,” coach Tim Miller said. “It just comes down to coaching. We have a talented team that we’re not getting everything out of, and that’s on coaches, and it starts with me.”
Hopes were high when Lapel’s Tyler Dollar scores early in the first quarter giving the Bulldogs a 6-0 lead, but North Decatur answered with a touchdown and two-point conversion to pull ahead 8-6. The Chargers scored again in the first, but their two-point attempt failed, making the score 14-6.
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The Chargers intercepted a Devin Craig pass to end the first quarter, and on their opening drive in the second, the Chargers upped the score to 21-6. After one more TD in the second, the half ended with North Decatur up 28-6.
Logan White scored Lapel’s second touchdown of the night on a 31-yard pass from quarterback Craig in the third quarter.
In the second half, the Bulldogs defense held North Decatur to just one TD in each of the final quarters. Chandler Lowes and Anthony Prater each blocked a field goal attempt by North Decatur. Landon Brown was credited with an interception.
Lapel’s final score of the night was on a Dollar 39-yard run up the middle. The two-point attempt failed, and the Bulldogs ended their scoring at 18 points. North Decatur’s final score of the night came on a Pick Six in Bulldog territory.
Despite the loss, Dollar racked up 253 yards rushing, while Craig was responsible for 153 yards passing.
“The kids’ effort is good. We just got to do a lot of little things better. Anytime we take two steps forward we take a step back whether it be penalties, false starts, wrong routes or cutting routes short. Just a bunch of little things we can do better,” Miller said.
Lapel was without the receiving talents of Nick Witte who was injured during the week in practice. Miller said he’s optimistic Witte will return soon.
Friday’s home contest will be unknown territory for the Bulldogs (2-3). Heritage (3-2) is a new opponent this season.
The Patriots passing game is led by junior quarterback Kobe Meyer who is averaging just more than 100 yards per game. Meyer, on the other hand, is also Heritage’s leading rushing at 79 yards per game.
Freshman Bulldog quarterback Craig is averaging 117 yards per game, while Dollar is currently No. 4 in Indiana in rushing stats.
Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.
